About the service
•The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a security force of India entrusted with protecting railway passengers, passenger area and railway property of the Indian Railways .
•It has the power to arrest, investigate and prosecute criminals.
•The force is under the authority of Ministry of Railways (India).
•The officers appointed through the Civil Services examination as appointed directly to the posts of Assistant Security Commissioner in Railway Protection Force,
•The RPF is headed by the Director General (DG).
History
•The genesis of the service can be traced back to 1854 when East Indian Railways employed certain staff designated as ‘Police’ to denote its own force by enacting the Police Act, 1861. The Railway Companies exercised full control over the Police Force.
•On the recommendation of Railway Police Committee, 1872, the Railway Police was organized into "Government Police" (the precursor of GRP) for law enforcement, and "Company Police" (the precursor of RPF) for Watch and Ward duties in railways.
•The Company Police evolved into the present RPF in 1957, as "Railway Security Force". The RPF was also given limited legal powers under the Railway Stores (Unlawful Possession) Act.
•On 29 August 1957, a Railway Protection Force Act was enacted by the Parliament and Railway Security Force was renamed as Railway Protection Force.
•The RPF Act, 1957 was accordingly modified by Parliament vide Act No.60 of 1985 on 20 September 1985 for the constitution and maintenance of the Force as an armed force of the Union.
Training
•The officers appointed through Civil Services Examination are first undertake the foundation course with the officers of other services.
•Then RPF Officers are provided with internal training during the service at RPF Academy Lucknow and also at different Academies as planned with Railways, DoPT and BPR&D.
•The whole period of probation is almost two years and after completion the officers selected for Railway Protection Force are confirmed.
Allocation of Zones
•The Direct Recruit Group A RPF officers are allotted a Railway Zone after their training depending upon their choice and the vacancies
•However, they can be posted anywhere in India, irrespective of their Zones
Roles and Functions
•Carry on an unrelenting fight against criminals in protecting railway passengers, passenger area and railway property.
•Facilitate passenger-travel and security by removing all anti-social elements from trains, railway premises and passenger area.
•Remain vigilant to prevent trafficking in women and children and take appropriate action to rehabilitate destitute children found in Railway areas.
•Co-operate with other departments of the Railways in improving the efficiency and image of the Indian Railways.
•Act as a bridge between the Government Railway Police/local police and the Railway administration.
•Adopt proactively all modern technology, best human rights practices, management techniques and special measures for protection of female and elderly passengers and children, in the pursuit of these objectives.
Rank of Officers
Deputations
•The RPF Group A officers are also eligible for many deputation postings like other Group A officers of Central Government
•They can be appointed at Autonomous organizations, PSUs, UN and other International Organizations
•They also get deputation in different ministries, Electricity Regulatory Authority of UTs, CBI, IB, State Police etc.
•They can also be deputed on UN Peacekeeping Missions like in Kosovo, Cyprus, Sudan etc.
Specific Issues with RPF
•RPF officers don’t reach to the top rank of the DG, a post held by the IPS officers
•RPF officers don’t enjoy the full police powers like GRP
•Their promotional prospect is not as good as other services
•They are entitled to the facilities of Railways and many perks of the police officers which is not available to the other civil services officers
•They don’t face any political interference
•Their life is comparatively peaceful as compared to the other police departments.
References
•http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/s ecurity/downloads/2014/Service_Profile_RPF_Officers.pdf •https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Protection_Force